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I work in an industry that produces billions of pounds of product every year. In fact, consumer electronics sales are expected to exceed a record $206 billion this year, a 5.9 percent jump from 2011. As opposed to so many other industries, consumer electronics has weathered the economic downturn remarkably well. But with great success comes greater responsibility, to modify the old axiom.

It is a reality in today’s world that consumers buy new electronics even when the old ones still work. Every year, sometimes multiple times a year, we put aside or hand off our old laptops, mobile phones, televisions, or game consoles to friends and family in favor of the newer versions. This isn’t necessarily because we’re wasteful – in fact these products often live second lives with friends and family. Rather, it’s because the older versions simply don’t work as well as the newer ones. But when these products are no longer useful what to do with the old ones?

For years now, CEA has been working in partnership with local, state and federal governments, as well as interested non-governmental organizations and other industry advocates to educate consumers on the availability and accessibility of electronics recycling locations. In fact, about 18 months ago we launched our innovative eCycling Leadership Initiative and set the Billion Pound Challenge, a goal of recycling one billion pounds of electronics annually by 2016.

As part of that challenge, we knew we had to educate Americans on the availability of the nearly 7,500 eCycling locations nationwide. And it looks like Americans are getting the message. According to CEA’s CE Recycling and Reuse 2012 Edition study – released today – nine in 10 consumers think it’s important to recycle their old electronics. Even better, six in 10 know where they can recycle them – compared to only 58 percent when surveyed two years ago.

This is encouraging news for the health of our environment. Consider the numbers: Our study found that two-thirds of consumers have removed at least one electronics device from their homes in the last year. If you don’t know where you can send that old device to be recycled, you might be tempted to take it to the trash.

Indeed, of the 12 percent of CE owners who reported putting a used CE device in the trash during the last 12 months, most cited convenience as the driving factor for their choice of removal. The good news is that nearly half (48 percent) of those CE owners donated the device for reuse, and 26 percent recycled the device. Of those who donated a device, the majority (63 percent) gave it to friends and family.

Industry leadership in eCycling is moving us in the right direction – but there’s still more we all can do.

CEA has created an eCycling zip code locator on GreenerGadgets.org where consumers can easily find the closest responsible recycling opportunity sponsored by the consumer electronics industry and/or third-party certified recyclers. Just punch in your zip code and see a nearby drop-off location. The site also has information on how to use consumer electronics devices efficiently and how to shop for the most sustainable products that promise better energy savings.

Electronics recycling is a national problem that needs a national solution. For consumers it should be just as easy to recycle electronics as it is to buy them. The current patchwork of varying state eCycling mandates must evolve into a national effort led by industry. Electronics should be recycled responsibly no matter the state or political jurisdiction in which the recycling is done.

Innovation is the power that fuels our association, and it is at the forefront of our industry’s commitment to recycle used consumer electronics responsibly through the eCycling Leadership Initiative, the Billion Pound Challenge, and our GreenerGadgets.org website.